5. Characterize the attitude of the British to sport. Complete the given passage, making use of the following word combinations from the box. Extend the statements.

1. People all over the world are fond of sports and games. But there are ……… which enjoy the greatest popularity in that country or another. In Great Britain taking sports is a favourite past-time for people.

2. The fitness boom of the eighties led to big rise in the numbers of people participating in sports. Modern ……… with their swimming pools, squash courts, gyms and indoor courts, are competing with clubs, pubs and cinemas as places for people to go to spend their leisure time — and their money.

3. The British do all kinds of things in their spare time: they go shopping or jogging, they play darts or football, they collect records or stamps, they go to church or to the pub. People go to ……… or take part in aerobics and yoga and some of them do a kind of ……… in a gym. A lot of the British go cycling, play football and golf. Another common activity is jogging. Other popular sports are bowling, badminton, tennis and squash.

4. Many sports have their origins in Britain that is why Britain is sometimes called the cradle of sports. Two types of rugby, hockey, cricket, darts, tennis and boxing were invented in England. Golf ……… in Scotland. Here are the major ……… in Britain - Wimbledon (the Grand Slam Tennis Tournament), the British Open Golf Championship, the Grand National (it is the best known horse-racing steeplechase).

5. The game peculiarly associated with England is cricket. Many other games are also English in origin, but have been accepted with enthusiasm in other countries; cricket has been seriously and extensively accepted only in the Commonwealth, particularly in Australia, India, Pakistan.

Cricket is slow, and a spectator, sitting in the afternoon sun after his lunch, may be excused for having a little sleep for half an hour. Cricket is making no progress in popularity.

Rugby football is played with an egg-shaped ball which may be carried and thrown (but not forward). Rugby is played mainly by the ……….

6. The games of golf and tennis are played by great numbers of people. Golf is played in the countryside. It consists of driving a small ball towards and into holes separated by considerable distances, by means of special «golf clubs». The aim is to go round using as few strokes as possible.

7. There are many tennis clubs, but every town provides ……… in public parks. The world championship tennis matches ……… at Wimbledon in London, during June and July.

weight training, sport events, are held, national games, keep fit classes, has its origins, tennis courts, health centres, amateurs

Work in pairs

6. Restore the dialogues from the questions given below:

• Well, what sport do you do? You look quite athletic…

• ….

• Why did you give up?

• ……

• Oh, it’s a pity. I suppose you were very upset, weren’t you?

• …..

• You know, I really love tennis… my friend says I’m a natural fan. Shall we have a game sometimes?

• …..

• Don’t be silly. I’m only a novice. We’ll just have a friendly game.

• OK. See you on Sunday.

• Oh, I used to play tennis, but I gave it up three years ago.

• A bit. But sport is still a part of my life. I go to the court once in a while.

• I broke my arm.

• Well, I don’t know. I’m out of practice.